CO129-580-9 Air Raid precautions- supply of equipment 14-2-1939 - 24-11-1939 — Page 32

XX SECRET (3)

Зо

53871/39

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

4

HONG KONG.

32

26MA, 1985

9th May, 1939.

Orig

endi. to b.a.

(1)

Sir,

With reference to paragraph 12 of my

secret despatch of 14th February, 1939, in which I proposed to purchase respirators for sale to residents of the Colony at cost price, I have the honour to inform you that, from enquiries made amongst the European and Chinese populations, it seems probable that 100,000 respirators could be

sold on that basis.

2.

It is proposed that the sale price shall

cover not only the initial cost of the respirators

but also the cost of transport, storage, extra staff

involved and other incidental expenses.

After

purchase the respirators would be stored free of

charge by the Government in the proposed Air Raid

Precautions store and would be held at the disposal

of the purchaser.

3.

It is not possible at this stage to work out detailed estimates of the financial provision necessary, but it is anticipated that this should not exceed $300,000 in order to cover a first order of

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&C.,

&C.